Pneumatic action.



J.COURVHLE PNEUMATIC ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27, I913.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

hfiincssas WWW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH COURVILLE, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO BUSH AND LANE'PIANO COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

PNEUMATIC ACTION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrrr CO'URVILLE, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PneumaticActions, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to pneumatic actions particularly designed for usein connection with percussion musical instruments, such as automaticpianos.

It is the primary object of the invention to simplify the construction,dispensing with parts usually employed, and at the same time obtaining asensitive and quickly responsive construction.

It is a further object to condense the structure within small spacelimits without crowding or interfering with the function of any of theelements.

To this end the invention comprises various features of construction ashereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a cross section through a portion of theaction showing one of the individual pneumatics; Figs. 2 and 2 areperspective views of the parts forming the valve case detached; and Fig.3 is a plan view partly in horizontal section of one of the powerpneumatics with the valve case detached.

In the construction of pneumatic actions for musical instruments, it isusual to employ a system of primary, secondary and power neumatics,which relay the primarv air currents controlled by the music sheet andtracker, and furnish the necessary power for operating the soundproducer. The use of this triple system increases the complexity of thestructure while it is nevertheless deemed necessary to secure both powerand speed. I have devised a construction in which the intermediatepneumatics are dispensed with without sacrificing either power or speed,the construction being as follows:

My improved action preferably comprises a plurality of superposed tiersof pneumatics connected to a. common wind chest. This wind chest ispreferably formed of horizontally-extending tubes A, -one for each tier,with spaces B therebetween for receiving a ,Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

Application filed December 27,1913. Serial No. 808,949.

portion of the power pneumatics C. Each of these pneumatics is assembledwith a cooperating controlling valve and primary pneumatic, constitutingtherewith a unit independently attachable to and detachable from thewind chest. The outer pneumatic C is preferably of the bellows type,being provided with a stationary board D and movable board E. Thestationary board is preferably rabbeted or cut adjacent to the hinge endto form a shoulder F for seating against the tube A. This board is alsoformed with a recess therein for the pri mary valve pouch H, and at oneside of this recess is a bore J extending out through the end of theboard and connected with the tube K leading to the tracker for theprimary air current. Adjacent to the board 1) is a valve chest,preferably formed of metal and in two sections L and M. The section L isformed with a complementary recess N for the valve pouch, having acentral through aperture for the valve stem. This valve stem 0 has ahead P at its lower end for engaging the button or central plate Q onthe pouch G.

R is a valve mounted on the stem 0 and located in a recess S formed inthe outer member M of the valve chest. The recess S has a throughaperture T in alinement with the through aperture in the lower sectionof the chest, and the valve is of greater diameter to seat upon themarginal portions surrounding said apertures. There is also an extensionU of the recess S, which communicates with an aperture V extendingthrough the lower section of the chest and the board D, so as tocommunicate with the interior of the power pneumatic. The section L hasa port W through the end adjacent to the tube A, and which registerswith a port in said tube so as to establish communication between thevalve cell N and the wind chest. There is also a bleed port X formed ina diaphragm X above the board D, and communicating with a lateral portin the bore J. The recess N is enlarged to extend over the bleed X,thereby establishing a constant connection wih the vacuum of the chest.

The sections L and M of the valve chest are secured in position byscrews Y extending through marginal registering apertures therein andinto the top board D of the power pneumatic. These sections are alsosecured to the tube A by screws Z passing apertures in the respectivesections, the heads of said screws being upon the outside of the.

tube A and packing washers G being employed to seal the joint.

lVith the construction as described whenever vacuum is created withinthe tube A it will be communicated to the chambe' N of the valve celland through the bleed X to the registering chamber below the pouch H.This will equalize the pressure upon opposite sides of said pouch andwill permit the valve R to rest upon its lower seat, closing the port Nbetween the lower and upper sections of the chest and opening the port Tcommunicating with the atmosphere. This will cause atmosphericconnection with the chamber S in the upper section of the valve case,and through the port V with the chamber within the power pneumatic G.lVhenever a primary air current is admitted through the tube K by theregistration of a port in the music sheet with the tracker port, thiswill admit air under atmospheric pressure below the pouch H, raising thesame and causing it to lift the valve stem 0 and valve R, therebyopening the port N and closing the port T. This will place the vacuumupon the chamber S and the port V, collapsing the pneumatic C andcausing it to deliver the power stroke.

To guide the valve R and hold the same from lateral displacement aseries of pins R are arranged around the same, being secured to thelower section L of the chest. Air tight oints are formed by compressiblefacings or gaskets between the faces of the several sections.

mg a recess in the stationary wall'thereof,

and a port'distinct from said recess to the interior of the pneumatic, apouch covering said recess, a wind chest, means for securing the windchest to the pneumatic, two metallic valve sections of substantially thesame contour superimposed one upon the other and said power pneumatic,and having their ends abutting against the side of the said wind chest,one of said valve chest sections being recessed to form a chamber forthe pouch, and a port for registration with the power pneumatic port,and the other section being recessed to form a valve chambercommunicating with said power pneumatic and with the externalatmosphere, a fastening member passing through said sections exteriorlyof the chamber of the valve chest at its upper end and engaging thestationary wall, securing said valve chest to said wall, the stationarywall of the power pneumatic being provided with a horizontally extendingbore adjacent the lower portion of the wind chest and a verticallyextending bleed passage leading from said bore and communicating withsaid chamber from the pouch, and a diaphragm provided with a porttherein overlying said vertically eX- tending bleed passage,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH COURVILLE. i tnesses WM. J. BELKNAI, HENRIETTA E. BOWMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Paten s. Washington, I). C.

